Celebrating life and work of renowned folklorist
One of Perthshire’s most historically significant cultural figures will be celebrated next month at Cultybraggan Camp.
Songwriter, poet and linguist Hamish Henderson will be honoured during a programme of music, poetry, readings and talks.
The Comrie event is part of the third annual Hamish Matters Festival, which takes place in Blairgowrie from November 1-11 and pays homage to the life and work of Hamish Henderson, who was born in the town and is one of the area’s most famous sons.
Beginning on Friday, November 1, a reception and welcome by MSP Roseanna Cunningham open to all will be held at 7.30pm.
This will be followed by a talk from local folklorist and singer Margaret Bennett and a bothy ‘sing-around’ with Scott Gardiner.
Saturday, November 2, sees a full programme at the camp with self-guided tours in the morning and a talk by biographer Timothy Neat.
Poet and musician Pino Mereu from The Hamish Henderson Club in Rome, who is flying in especially for the festival, will present ‘Hamish in Italy, Gramsci and the Partisans’ at 11.45am.
Lunch is from 12.45 to 2pm and the afternoon will see a concert - ‘Come-All-Ye’ - with Adam McNaughtan, Bob Blair, Alison McMorland and Geordie McIntyre, Margaret Bennett, Tim Neat, Pino Mereu, Scott Gardiner and Graham Irvine.
Hamish Henderson on film takes place at 7.30pm, and, at 8.30pm, there’s ‘A tribute to Hamish in songs and stories’.
A ‘Farewell sing-around’ takes place on Sunday at the Commercial Hotel in Muthill.
Tickets are available for the Saturday events on the gate and from Eventbrite.
Poet Jim Mackintosh is one of the team behind this year’s festival.
He said: “The centenary of the birth of Hamish Henderson provides an irresistible prompt for reflecting not only on why he mattered, but why he matters to this day.
“First and foremost, Hamish was a poet but arguably pushed his own creative intellect to one side to make room for the many causes he championed.
“In addition, as with every true radical, Hamish looked beyond the orthodoxies of his times.
“Opinions and outlooks that once attracted mainstream hostility now permeate society at large – in no small part thanks to the moral courage of people such as Hamish.
“The world could do with a few more Hamish’s and in this, his centenary year, the Hamish Matters Festival will continue to provide space to celebrate Hamish and hope it provides people the opportunity to reflect.”